The England and Wales Cricket Board’s Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) today confirmed that Paul Horton has received a penalty under the ECB’s Directives.
During the NatWest T20 Blast final between Lancashire Lightning and Birmingham Bears on August 23, Horton was reported by umpires Rob Bailey, Michael Gough, Tim Robinson and Neil Mallender for a Level 2 breach of the code: showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action.
The penalty for this offence is three penalty points. This penalty will remain on his record for a period of two years and the accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.
In addition, the Cricket Discipline Commission considered that further action was necessary in relation to this matter.
In accordance with summary procedure Regulations 5 and 6 of the Cricket Discipline Commission Regulations, Horton has accepted a penalty of suspension from Lancashire’s first two matches in the NatWest T20 Blast in 2015.
Horton said: "I apologise to the umpires for my actions. I realise that these were unacceptable, particularly given the high profile nature of the match, watched by millions around the world on TV and a full house at Edgbaston.
"As players we must be aware of our responsibilities as role models, none more so than the captain."